Batman v Superman director Zack Snyder planning a Watchmen TV series for HBO as Game Of Thrones successor?

Batman v Superman director Zack Snyder's 2009 film Watchmen is one of the most underrated superhero films. The movie based on the DC Comics limited series failed to set the box office cash registers ringing when released but eventually went on to gain cult status among fans. Now, it looks like Snyder is planning to revisit the DC property in the form of a TV series.

According to Collider, Snyder has apparently pitched some idea for a Watchmen series to HBO. It's still very early in the process, so there aren't any concrete details available yet on whether the series will be a retelling of the original story, a prequel, and/or a sequel. HBO released a brief statement on this matter to The Hollywood Reporter (via Empire): "Preliminary discussions regarding Watchmen have occurred but we have no additional information and no deals are in place."

Considering the fact that Snyder currently has his hands full with setting up the DC Cinematic Universe with Batman v Superman and the two-part Justice League film, it's unlikely we see any movement on this Watchmen series until 2017 or 2018, at the earliest. ComicBookMovie further speculates that this potential Watchmen series could eventually serve as the successor to HBO's Game Of Thrones, which is expected to run at least seven or eight seasons.

What is Watchmen all about?

Watchmen is set in an alternate reality that closely mirrors the contemporary world of the 1980s. The primary difference is the presence of superheroes. The point of divergence occurs in the year 1938. Their existence in this version of America is shown to have dramatically affected and altered the outcomes of real-world events such as the Vietnam War and the presidency of Richard Nixon. In keeping with the realism of the series, although the costumed crimefighters of Watchmen are commonly called "superheroes", only one (Doctor Manhattan) possesses any superhuman powers.

The existence of Doctor Manhattan has given the US a strategic advantage over the Soviet Union, which has increased tensions between the two nations. Eventually, superheroes grow unpopular among the police and the public, leading to the passage of legislation in 1977 to outlaw them. While many of the heroes retired, Doctor Manhattan and a veteran superhero known as The Comedian operate as government-sanctioned agents. Another, Rorschach, continues to operate outside the law.